Broadcasting veteran Alan Jones has broken his public silence following the death of his long-time rival John Laws, paying a heartfelt tribute to the radio legend who passed away aged 90.
The talkback radio king died on Sunday, concluding a remarkable broadcasting career that spanned an incredible seven decades and fundamentally shaped Australian media.
A Complex Radio Rivalry
Jones and Laws maintained one of Australian radio's most famous and heated rivalries throughout their careers as competing talkback hosts. Their professional tension was famously intensified by the infamous 'cash for comment' scandal that rocked the broadcasting industry.
Breaking his silence, Jones described Laws as an 'idiosyncratic individual' while sharing a nostalgic photograph of the pair during their broadcasting heyday.
Remembering a Broadcasting Pioneer
In his emotional tribute, Jones reflected on Laws' extraordinary impact on Australian radio. 'For almost three quarters of that time, 'the voice' entertained, cajoled, persuaded, jested, but, above all, spoke with an unapologetic clarity,' Jones wrote.
He highlighted Laws' famous personal observation: 'If they don't like it, they can turn off.' Jones noted that listeners rarely did because 'whether from adulation or anger, John Laws was compulsive listening.'
What terrified politicians about him was his ability to read the pulse of the nation when few politicians could achieve the same connection with the public.
Memories Beyond the Microphone
Jones shared personal anecdotes that revealed the man behind the microphone, including their legendary late nights at Sydney's old Darcys restaurant in Paddington.
'I would leave at about 2.30am, head home to change my shirt, and prepare for the breakfast shift,' Jones recalled. 'An unsteady 'golden' voice would invariably ring me on air, in uncertain tones, to tell me he would make it by 9am! How? I never knew.'
He also recounted how Laws lost his first radio job at age 17 because he refused management's directive to stop smoking - an early indication of the independent spirit that would define his career.
Setting the Record Straight
Jones directly addressed their much-publicised professional rivalry, insisting that there was never animosity between them despite the competitive tension.
'Too much has been made of our so-called rivalry,' Jones stated. 'Of course, in any game worth its salt, there is always competitive tension; but there was never animosity, always a lot of great stories, many laughs, and enduring respect and friendship.'
The tribute came just hours after Jones paid respects to former Labor politician Graham Richardson, who died on Saturday, marking a sombre period for Australian public life.
A Lasting Legacy
Jones concluded with a powerful cricket analogy to honour his colleague's life and career. 'There can be no greater gift and reward in life than to enter the lives of others and receive something in return.'
He emphasised that John Laws lived within the lives of millions of Australians who now honour his extraordinary place in broadcasting history.
'Can there be any greater legacy?' Jones asked, leaving the question hanging as a fitting tribute to a man whose voice became part of Australia's cultural fabric for seven decades.
